Safety razor



.Fum 21, 1938. W, HAL mzmw SAFETY RAZOR Filed Feb. 6, 1936 Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 3 Claims.

This invention relates to safety razors of the type comprising a face guard, a, handle and a blade with means for clamping said blade on the face guard and holding it longitudinally parallel therewith.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved razor of the above type wherein the handling of various parts is rendered more convenient, and the act of shaving in a correct and scientific way made easy of accomplishment.

In some razors of this type the parts must all be separated to remove or replace a blade, and in others the parts are held in assembled form when removing or replacing a blade, but are complicated in construction and expensive to make.

In this invention a simple form of construction is provided, more conveniently manipulated and not so complicated in construction nor so expensive to make.

The construction comprises a face guard, face plate and atwo part handle, with screw means connection between the face plate and handle for clamping the blade between the face plate and face guard. But a novel co-operative means between the face guard and handle is provided whereby when the handle is disengaged from'connection with the face plate it is connected with the face guard, so that the handle and face guard may be removed in assembled form as a single unit, thus making it easy, quick and convenient to remove or replace a blade, or to clean the razor.

To obtain best results when shaving the blade should be drawn against the beard at an oblique angle. In this invention an angle guide is provided, to be mounted on the handle of the razor, which will enable the user to hold the blade at any desired angle to the face, without any special effort on his part to do so.

An improved blade is provided embodying novel means for holding it in parallel position to the face guard, by which means, also, the blade may be easily picked up from table or shelf, or removed from the face plate, without danger of injuring the blade or cutting the fingers.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be illustrated and explained in the following drawing and specification.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a razor of this type showing the angle guide mounted on the handle.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2A is a View of Fig. 2 with the handle in Fig. 7is a plan view of the face guard with the member 4a, Figs. 2 and 2A, mounted thereon.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the face plate.

When separating or assembling the parts of the razor it is desirable to have as few parts as possible to handle, consistent with a practical mechanism easily manipulated. To this end means are provided in this invention whereby when the two part handle is detached from connection with the face plate it will be in connection with the face guard, thus uniting these three parts into a single unit and permitting said face guard and united handle to be separated from the face plate and blade, and be removed in assembled form.

In Fig. 2, l is the face guard having a centrally located opening la, see also Fig. 7. 2 is the face plate having rigidly mounted thereon a threaded stem 2a, see also Fig. 8. Said threaded stem isadapted to pass through the opening la in the face uard. 3 is the blade, and 4 and 4a constitute a two part handle. 4 is a rotatable part of said handle and 4a is a stationary part of said handle rigidly mounted on the face guard. The rotatable part i has a centrally located threaded aperture adapted to engage the threaded stem 2a which is mounted on the face plate. Thus a detachable screw means connection is provided between the rotatable part of the handle and the face plate for the purpose of clamping or releasing the blade as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The rotatable part of the handle 4 carries a threaded section to and the stationary part of the handle 4a carries a threaded section ib. It will be evident by reference to Figs. 2 and 2A that when the rotatable part of the handle is detached from the threaded stem 2a and thereby detached from connection with the face plate 2, that the threaded section 40 on the rotatable part of the handle is adapted to be inmeshed with the threaded section 419 on the stationary part of the handle, and thus the two parts of the handle may be united as one and would be connected with the face guard, permitting said handle and face guard to be separated from the face plate and removed in assembled form.

Reference to the drawing, Figs. 2 and 2A, will show that the threaded section 40 on the rotatable part of the handle may be screwed in either direction entirely through and out of connection with the threaded section 4b on the stationary part of the handle. This not only permits the upper end of the rotatable part of the handle to ing the blade, but facilitates the original assembling of these two parts together and permits of their entire separation for cleaning or other purposes. It also permits the angle guide 1: be screwed up against the face guard for clamp- 5 being entirely removed from the handle, if the user should so desire.

To facilitate the separation of the face guard and handle from the face plate and blade, the ends of the face guard are concaved as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7. When unscrewing the handle from the threaded stem 2a for the purpose of effecting this separation, the head of the razor is naturally held between the thumb and finger of one hand while the other hand unscrews the handle. The blade and face guard are of the same length as illustrated in Fig. 3, the face plate is the same length, but is not shown in Fig. 3. In this operation the thumb and finger have a firm grip on the ends of the blade and face plate, but the ends of the face guard being concaved as illustrated in Fig. 3, the thumb and finger press only lightly on these concaved ends, but with sufficient force to hold the face guard in position while the handle is being unscrewed and disengaged from connection with face plate. When this has been accomplished the slight pressure on the concaved ends of the face guard is released and the face guard and handle are free to be removed in assembled form as a single unit. This construction provides a quick and convenient means for separating the parts to remove the blade, and leaves the face guard and handle in one assembled unit more conveniently and quicker handled than when they are in two parts to be handled separately.

The blades used in most razors of this type are fiat and somewhat longer than the face guard and face plate. Their extended ends are for convenience in placing the blade in position on the face plate and removing it therefrom, and for providing necessary clearance between the thumb and finger and ends of the face guard when the head of the razor is being held between the thumb and finger for placing the face guard in position on the blade and removing it therefrom.

When the handle is being screwed up tight to clamp the blade and being unscrewed to release it, the extended ends of the longer blade are of necessity held firmly between the thumb and finger with the ever present danger of cutting the thumb or finger on the extended ends of a thin blade.

The extended ends of the long blade are also more or less troublesome when shaving close to the nose and ears. But they do provide necessary clearance between thumb and finger and the ends of the face guard to facilitate placing and removal of the face guard on and off the blade.

To eliminate the objections to the longer flat blade referred to above, I use a short blade having upstanding lugs near its ends and corresponding in length to the face guard as shown in Fig. 3. A plan view of the blade is shown in Fig. 4. The face plate is also the same length as the blade and face guard but being immediately under the blade it does not show in Fig. 3. A plan View of the face plate is shown in Fig. 8.

Referring now to Fig. 3. This shorter blade to be practical and convenient in use, must be the same length as the face guard, have upstanding lugs 32), 31) near its ends, and be used in combination with a face guard having concaved ends with notches lb, lb therein. When assembled the ends of the face guard and the open sides of the concaves therein register even with the ends of the blade. The concaves thus provide necessary clearance between the thumb and finger and the ends of the face guard, permitting the thumb and finger to grasp the even ends of the blade and face plate for holding the razor while the face guard is being mounted on the blade and removed therefrom.

When the face guard is being mounted on the blade, the notches in the concaves register with V and are engaged by the lugs near the ends of the blade. This engagement of said lugs with said notches being so near the ends of the blade and face guard, hold the blade in perfect and unmovable alignment with the face guard.

When the razor is being assembled the face plate is held in one hand while the thumb and finger of the other hand contacts with the upstanding lugs near the ends of the blade by which the blade is lifted and placed in position on the face plate. This is much more convenient than picking a fiat blade from table or shelf and it eliminates all danger of injuring the blade or cutting the fingers. The thumb and finger then grasp the even ends of the blade and face plate and hold them firmly while the face guard is placed in position and the handle screwed up tightto clamp the blade. During these movements the concaved ends of the face guard prevent the thumb and finger interfering with the placement of the face guard, and the short blade eliminates all danger of cutting the thumb or finger on the extended end of a thin blade.

The lugs near the ends of the blade fit the notches in the concaved ends of the face guard snugly, whereby the blade is held in perfect and unmovable alignment with the face guard. This snug fit would frequently cause the blade to be lifted away with the face guard when disassembling the parts were it not for the contact of the thumb and finger holding the even ends of the blade and face plate together while the face guard is being removed. But the concaved ends permit the face guard to be removed without interference.

From the foregoing description of the co-operation between the blade and the lugs in the blade, and the concaved ends and notches in the face guard, it will be seen the blade without the lugs and this co-operation would be impractical, and the concaved ends and notches would serve no useful purpose except in co-operation with a short blade and the upstanding lugs near its ends.

To assemble the parts. The face plate and blade are held between the thumb and finger of one hand, with the blade mounted on the face plate, while the other hand holding the handle, which is connected with the face guard, places the face guard in position. The concaved ends of the face guard prevent the thumb and finger which are holding the blade and face plate, from hindering or interfering with the easy placement of the face guard in position. The handle is then screwed up tight on the threaded stem 2a, clamping the blade between the face plate and face guard, and the razor is ready for use.

When the handle is being screwed up tight on the threaded stem 20 it will be evident by reference to Fig. 2, that before the end of the handle contacts with the face guard and begins to draw the face plate and face guard together, that the threaded sections 4b and 4c are out of mesh, or out of engagement with each other, and therefore do not interfere with nor prevent the face plate and face guard being clamped together to properly flex the blade. During this operation the thumb and finger holding the ends of the blade and face plate will exert suflicient pressure amaze on the concaved ends of the face guard tohold itin position until the end of the handle contacts with the face guard and clamps the blade as shown in Fig. 2.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be evident that the same results above enumerated will be obtained by co-operation of the same parts, if the threaded sections 4?) and 40: be lengthened so that they will not disengage when the blade is clamped,

provided with differentially shaped and the upper end of the handle be slightly shortened so it will not contact with 1 the face guard when the blade is clamped. The threads on' the stem 2a and the threads in the aperture of the handle which engage the stem as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, would be cut with a greater lead than the threads on the sections 4b and 40, so that the engaged sections 4b and 4c pulling against the engagement of the stem 20!. with the aperture in the handle, would exert the pressure necessary to clamp the blade.

From the foregoing it will be seen the concaved ends of the face guard greatly facilitate the assembling and disassembling of the face guard with the face plate.

When the threaded sections 4b and 4c are not engaged, the threaded connection between the two parts of the handle is eliminated, and the two parts of the handle are then connected by a swivel-joint formed by the unthreaded section 4d near the upper end of the rotatable part of the handle passing through the section 4b in the lower end of the stationary part of the handle, this unthreaded section 4d of the handle being the axis of the swivel. The diametrical clearance in the section 4b is less than the diameter of the section to on the upper end of the rotatable part of the handle and also less than the diameter of the lower or main part of the rotatable part of the handle 4. See Fig. 2.

The threads in the sections 4b and 40 could if desired, be eliminated, but as they are adapted to screw entirely through each other and disconnect, as heretofore described, they provide a convenient means for mounting the angle guide on the handle, and for the original assembling of the parts.

To obtain best results when shaving the cutting edge of the razor should be drawn at an oblique angle against the beard. It is the natural tendency of most users, however, to draw the razor at right angles to' the stroke, and with theusual round handles provided for razors of this type it is difficult to hold the blade at any particular angle to the face without considerable effort to do so.

To enable the user to hold the blade at any desired angle to the face without any special effort on his part, I haveprovided what I term an angle guide 5, Figs. 1, 2, 2A, and 3. This angle guide is a distinct and separate member from the handle by which the razor is held as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 2A, and 3. It occupies but a very small portion of said handle and is adapted to be mounted on any part of the handle. One position is illustrated in Fig. 1. Said angle guide is sections adapted to be contacted by thumb and finger when grasping and holding the handle, for positioning said blade at the proper angle to the face, and indicating by their feel to the user, the angle atwhichhe is holding the razor. Said shaped'sections may be of any design desired and placed in any relation to each other desired. For example in Fig. 3, the angle guide 5 has two concaved sections opposite each other, two straight sidesopposite each other, two flat corners opposite each other and two round corners opposite each other. These sections may be positioned on the handle at any angle to the longitudinal axis of the face guard desired, and retained in any such position by tightening upthe sunken set screw 5w, Figs. 1 and 3.

Formany years standard razors of this type have been provided with round handles and when shaving around the mouth this is admittedly the most practical kind of a handle, but it is also known and admitted that when shaving the sides of the face and around and under the chin, the cutting edges of the blade should be held at an oblique angle to the stroke. My novel angles guide enables the user, without any special effort on his part, to hold the cutting edges at any desired angle, at the same time leaving the greater portion of the round handle unobstructed to be grasped in any manner desired, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the angle guide is shown as mounted onthe member 4a. This is the stationary part of the handle. If the angle guide be mounted on the rotatable part of the handle, set to the de sired position and secured by the sunken set screw 5a, it will aways bear the same relation to the longitudinal axis of the face guard when the handle is screwed up and the razor is ready for use.

It will be evident by reference to Fig. 3 in connection with Fig. 1, that whether the blade have .two cutting edges, or only one cutting edge, if the user will carefully adjust the angle guide on the handle to best suit hisown natural way of grasp ing and holding his razor, he will, without effort, always be able to hold his razor at the same angle to his face when shaving. If the blade have two cutting edges and he placeshis thumb, for example, in one of the concaved sections, he will naturally hold one edge of the blade at a certain angle to his face. If he lays the razor down and picks it up with the thumb in the opposite concaved section he will naturally hold the opposite edge of the blade to his face when shaving, and naturally at the same angle. If the blade have only one cutting edge, or if he alternately uses both hands when shaving, it is only necessary for him to properly adjust the angle guide and become accustomed to the touch or feel of the l different sections which enable him to naturally hold the razor at the desired angle.

"Reference to Fig. l shows the angle guide occupies but a very small space on the round handle It is the thumb and finger that determines the 7 improvement in the method and means for holding this type of razor when shaving.

In Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, I have illustrated an improved blade 3, which embodies means for handling the blade, and for holding it in position when assembled for use, more convenient and easier of manipulation, than the usual fiat blade provided for razors of this type.

In the center of the blade is a longitudinal opening 3a, Fig. .4. This opening is adapted to fit loosely over the stem 20. and the short ribs connected with it, on the face plate 2, Fig. 8, which serves as a guide means for positioning the blade and face guard on the face plate, and may be of any desired form suitable for that purpose. In the center of the face guard is a longitudinal opening Ia, Fig. '7, which is adapted to fit snugly over the said threaded stem 20. and the short ribs connected with it on the face plate. On the longitudinal axis of the face guard are narrow notches lb-Ib, Figs. 3 and 7. On the longitudinal axis of the blade are upturned narrow lugs 3b-3b, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. Said lugs on the blade are adapted to fit snugly in the notches lb-lb in the face guard and thus hold the blade longitudinally parallel with the face guard, see Fig. 3. Said lugs are also adapted to be contacted by thumb and finger for lifting the blade from the face plate after the face guard has been removed, or for lifting the blade from table or shelf and placing it in position on the face plate. These lugs are preferablyrounded on the top as shown in Fig. 5, which facilitates their sure and easy engagement with the slots Iblb in the face guard when the face guard is placed in position. Said lugs are narrow at their base which permits the proper flexing of the blade between the face plate and face guard. These lugs being narrow as shown in the drawing do not interfere with the proper flexing of the blade, and being near theends of the blade and fitting snugly in the notches lb-lb hold the cutting edges of the blade in perfect alignment with the face guard and face plate. A blade made as this one is requires no guide pins near its ends and no lugs on the corners of the face guard to prevent the corners of the blade spreading. Such corner lugs employed on many standard razors of this type, are troublesome when placing the blade in position, and if not carefully placed will frequently cause the breaking of the blade when it is clamped. A study of my blade will show it to be a convenient, easily handled and safe form of blade. I

To assemble the parts for shaving, the thumb and finger are placed on the upturned lugs 3b3b, Fig. 6 of the blade. A slight pressure is exerted and the blade may be easily and conveniently lifted from table or shelf, without danger of injuring the blade or cutting the fingers, and placed in position on the face plate, Fig. 8. The lugs lib-3b are preferably slanted towards the ends of the blade as shown in Fig. 6, which facilitates a holding contact with the thumb and finger for lifting the blade, and for nesting the blades in a package. The face guard and handle are connected in assembled form, and it will be evident by reference to Fig. 3, that whileone hand firmly holds the ends of the blade and face plate between the thumb and finger, the other hand may grasp the handle, and lifting the face guard and handle together, place the face guard in position. The concaved ends of the face guard, shown in Fig. 3, prevent the thumb and finger which are holding the face plate and blade, from interfering with thefree and easy placement of the face guard. When the face guard is thus placed in position the lugs 3b,3b on the blade are adapted to engage and fit snugly in the notches lb-Ib in the concaved ends of the face guard, see Fig. 3. This holds the blade in perfect alignment with the face guard. The handle is now screwed up on the threaded stem 2a and the razor is ready for use.

The blade and face plate are the same length and this prevents any danger of cutting the thumb or finger on the extended end of a thin blade when holding the ends of the blade and face plate to screw up or unscrew the handle.

I have herein illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, but I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein shown, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a safety razor, a face guard having a centrally located opening therein, a face plate having a centrally located threaded stem thereon adapted to pass through said central opening in said face guard, a blade adapted to be clamped between said face guard and face plate, a two piece handle comprising a stationary part rigidly mounted on said face guard and a rotatable part having a centrally located threaded aperture adapted to be screwed up on said threaded stem for clamping the blade by contacting the upper end of said rotatable part of the handle with the face guard, a threaded section on the inner wall of said stationary part of the handle and a threaded section on the outer surface of said rotatable part of said handle, said threaded sections being adapted to engage with and be disengaged from each other in either direction, and to be disengaged from each other when said rotatable part of said handle is screwed up into contact with said face guard, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. A safety razor including in combination, a face plate, a face guard having concaved ends with notches therein, a blade corresponding in length to said face guard and having upstanding lugs near its ends, the open sides of said concaved ends being adapted to register even with the ends of said blade, said notches in said concaved ends being adapted to register over and be engaged by said upstanding lugs in said blade whereby said blade is held in perfect and unmovable alignment with said face guard, and means for clamping said blade between said face plate and face guard.

3. In a safety razor, a face guard having a centrally located opening therein, a face plate having a centrally located threaded stem mounted thereon adapted to pass through said central opening in said face guard, a blade adapted to be clamped between said face guard and face plate, a two piece handle comprising a stationary part rigidly mounted on said face guard and having a threaded section on its inner wall and a rotatable part of said handle having a threaded section on its outer wall the said two threaded sections of the handle being adapted to engage with and be disengaged from each other, and a centrally located threaded aperture in said rotatable part of the handle adapted to screw up on said threaded stern into contact with said face guard for clamping said blade, and a swivel-joint connection between the two parts of said handle when in assembled form with no threaded connection between them.

WILLIAM H. HALL. 

